Meat broiling apparatus



Oct. 13, B EBIN MEAT BROILING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filled sept. fr, 1949 NNN...

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MEAT BROILING APPRATUS Oct. 13, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1949 Oct. 13, 1953 B. EBIN MEAT BROILING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 13, 1953 B, EBIN 2,655,096

'MEAT BROILING APPARATUS Filed sept. 7, 1949 4 sheets-sheet 4 A IN VEN TOR.

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BY AOMQJA/f,

JAM? @a Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEAT BRGILING APPARATUS Benjamin Ehin, New York, N. Y.

Application vSeptember 7, 1949, 'Serial No. 114,313

BiClaims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for broiling meats of all kinds, and especially poultry. n

Itis an object of the present invention to provide apparatus of this type in which meat will uniformly be broiled while being advanced in a continuous motion from vone to the other end of the apparatus, and 'which requires little skill and effort on the part of -an attendant constantly to supply meat to the apparatus for `most efficient performance of the latter at maximum capacity, thereby to render vthe apparatus particularly suitable for 'broiling meats for commercial purposes.

It is another object ofthe present invention to provide apparatus of this type with 'laterally spaced endless conveyors of which the substantially horizontal top runs extend lengthwise of the apparatus on opposite sides, respectively of a heated broiling zone, and also Vwith longitudinally spaced provisions for removably supporting thereon the top runs of the conveyors land in bridging relation therewith a multitude of spits, respectively, on which meat has previously been impaled by an attendant lor attendants.

It is another object of the present invention 'to locate the heat source for the broilin'g zone above the conveyors, and to provide for automatic turning of the meat-carrying spits as they are advanced through the 'apparatus by the top runs of the conveyors, so as evenly to expose vall sides of the meat to the heat source.

Itis another object of the present invention to provide for adjustment of the vheat source toward and away from the conveyors, thereby to permit regulation of the temperature in the 'heated zone for 'the correct 'broiling of different meats during their v.passage through the apparatus at an efcient speed, or to permit the broil- 'ing in the apparatus of meats of different sizes, 4such .as diierent kinds of poultry, for instance.

It is another object of the present invention to vprovide apparatus of this type which vis of simple and rugged construction, lends itself to ready assembly and installation, as well as to ready repair or ready replacement 'of parts, -if necessary, and permits ready inspection of meat being broiled anywhere on its passage through the apparatus.

lThe above and other objects, features and .advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from lthe following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: 1 Figs. 1 vand .2 together are a side-elevational 2 view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 iis a fragmentary top plan View of a part of the same apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation .of the vapparatus :as viewed in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1;

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary section taken :on vthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section 'taken on vthe line -B-E of Fig. 3'; y'and Fig. "l is a section taken -on the line -'l-1 4of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 'the reference numeral lll designates an endless conveyor which is carried by a frame I2 and adapted to convey meat to be broiled through a heat-ed zone e. The conveyor 'IB comprises laterally spaced endless chains M and t6 which are passed over pairs vof sprockets I8 and 2B, respectively.

rlhe frame i2, being in the present instance articulated, comprises on the opposite sides of the apparatus end legs 234 and 26, respectively, to "the upper ends of which are suitably secured, as 'by welding, side rails 28 and 30, respectively, that may conveniently be in the '-form of angles of which the respective horizontal flanges -32 and -34 serve as supporting tracks for the top runs t of the conveyor chains H and IB, respectively, The side rails 2-8 and 30 are preferably further 'supported by intermediate legs T40 and A2, respectively -(Figs. l, 2 and 45). The frame i2 is, in the present instance, reinforced longitudinally Athereof by rails M and 46 (Figs. 1, 2 and `5) `which are suit` ably secured, as -by welding, to the 'legs on the `opposite sides, respectively, Jor" the frame. Crossbraces 48 are also provided between Athe opposite legs of the frame f2 (Figs. '1 to 4) `for further reinforcement of the latter. The end legs 24, 2'6 and intermediate legs All, 42 -of the frame vl2 are preferably seated with their lower ends lin suitable shoes 50, respectively, by means of which the frame f2 is `firmly mounted on the floor (Fig. 45.

The front sprockets i8 and 2U", over which pass the conveyor chains iii and 16, respectively, are mounted on a shaft 52 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is journal-led with its ends in suitable bearing brackets 54 and 56 on support rails '62 and r`64 4re'- spectively. `The support rails 6'2 and E4, which may rconveniently be in the vform .of lJ-shaped channels as shown in Fig. 4 project forwardly from, and are suitably secured to., the front legs 2li and 26, respectively, of the frame 1.2. The support rails B2 and 64 maybe reinforced by side braces 66 and 68 respectively (Figs. 1 and 4).

The rear sprockets I8 and 29, being mounted similarly as the front sprockets I8 and 20', are carried by a shaft 80 (Fig. 2) which is journalled with its ends in spaced bearing brackets 82 on support rails 84 which project rearwardly from and are suitably secured to the adjacent end legs 24 and 26, respectively, on the frame i2. The support rails 84 may be reinforced by side braces 85, respectively.

Due to the considerable longitudinal extent of the conveyor chains I4 and I 6, the front sprockets I8 and 20", as well as the rear sprockets I3 and 201", are driven clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. in order to prevent undue tension in the conveyor chains. To this end, the sprocket shaft 52 at the front of the apparatus carries a further sprocket 90 (Figs. l, 3 and 4) which through a chain 92 is drivingly connected with a sprocket 94 on the slow shaft 66 of a reduction gearing 98 on an electric motor Il.

The motor may suitably be mounted at IM on spaced support rails IM and |06 (Figs. 1 and 4) which project forwardly from and are suitably secured to the adjacent cross-brace 48 of the frame i2. The support rails |04 and |06 may be reinforced by suitable side braces S and I I0, respectively. The rear sprockets IB and 2Q" may be driven similarly as the front sprockets I8 and 20. To this end, the shaft 80 (Fig. 2) carries another sprocket (not shown) which through a chain is drivingly connected with a sprocket |22 on the slow shaft I 24 of a reduction gearing |26 on an electric motor |23. The motor |28 may suitably be mounted at |30 on spaced support rails |3'2 which project from and are suitably secured to the adjacent cross brace 48. The support rails |32 may be reinforced by suitable side braces |34, respectively.

Each conveyor chain is formed by pivotally connected links |50 of any suitable construction, of which regularly recurring ones are provided with bearing blocks |52, respectively, which are adapted for the rotary support of spits s on which meat, such as poultry p, for instance, has previously been impaled (Fig. 3). To this end, the bearing blocks |52 are arranged on the conveyor chains I4 and I5 in opposite pairs of which each pair is adapted for the reception of a spit s in the manner shown in Fig. 3 in which the spit bridges the gap between the conveyor chains and presents the poultry thereon to the broiling zone e substantially in the center thereof where the heat is most intense. The spits s are in the form of round rods, and the bearing blocks |52 are .provided with grooves |54, respectively, for the ready removable placement therein of the spits s .for their rotary support on the conveyor chains I4 and I6. Each spit s is, in the present instance, provided with a laterally offset prong s .on which the poultry is also impaled so that it will turn with the spit.

Preferably, substantial lengths of the bottom runs b of the conveyor chains |4 and I6 are also supported so as to reduce the tensile stresses and |66 of which the adjacent portions of the chains I4 and I6, respectively, are supported with Aferent kinds of poultry, for instance.

their bearing blocks |52 in the fashion shown in Fig. l. The tracks |60 and |62 may be reinforced by upright braces |62, respectively (Fig. l). Similar lengths of the bottom runs b of the chains |4 and I6 are at the rear of the apparatus (Fig. 2) supported with their bearing brackets |52 on tracks |64, respectively, which may be mounted, in a similar manner as the tracks |60 and |62. on the adjacent end legs 24 and 26, respectively, of the frame I2. The tracks |64 may be reinforced by vertical braces |65, respectively. Inasmuch as the conveyor chains I 4 and I6 travel in the direction of the arrows |66 in Fig. 1, the top flanges |64 and |66 of the tracks |60 and |62, respectively, are preferably extended at the rear thereof to form arcuate track extensions II, respectively (Fig. 1), which guide the bearing blocks |52 on the bottom runs b of the chains onto the respective tracks |60 and |52.

Provisions are also made to turn the spits s in their respective bearing blocks |52 during their travel with the top runs t of the conveyor chains .I4 and I6. To this end, each spit s carries at one end thereof a gear |I2 which is adapted to cooperate with a rack |14 that extends along one side of the frame I2 (Fig. 3). The rack |14 is mounted in any suitable manner in a channellike holder |16 (Figs. 3 and 6) which is clamped at |78 in spaced support brackets |80, suitably secured, as by welding, to a rail |82 which is itself suitably mounted on the adjacent side rail .28 of the frame |2. In placing in the described manner spits s on the conveyor I0 at the loading station L thereof (Figs. 1 and 3), the attendant makes sure that the gears I'I2 on the spits vare on the same side of the frame I2 as the rack |l4, and furthermore shifts the spits in their respective bearing blocks |52 so that the gears l|l12 thereon are in approximate alignment with the rack |14. Nevertheless, leading lengths of the side walls of the rack holder |'I6 are oppositely "flared as at and |92, respectively (Fig. 3), in order to direct the gears |'I2 of displaced spits s on the conveyor I0 safely into meshing relation with the rack I'I4. The rack I'I4 extends substantially to the rear end of the frame |2 so that the spits s are turned While passing to the very end of the broiling zone z. The spits s with the broiled poultry p thereon are, after their passage through the broiling Zone e of the apparatus, removed from the conveyor I0 at the station R (Fig. 2), preferably by an attendant to assure Vcareful handling of the prepared poultry and around the rear sprockets I8 and 20".

The broiling Zone a has for its heat source an overhead heater H (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which comprises, in the present instance, a plurality of name-heated ceramic blocks 200 (Fig. 4) that are suitably mounted side by side in a longitudinal frame 202. The heater frame 202 is vertically adjustably suspended to permit regulation of the temperature in the broiling zone a for the correct broiling therein of different kinds of meat, and also of meats of different sizes, such as dif- To this end, there are suspended, from the ceiling, for instance, on opposite sides of the heater frame 202 pairs of spaced brackets 204 and 206, respectively (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) in which are journalled shafts 208 and 2|0, respectively. Carried on the l ends of the shafts 208 and 2|0 are wheels 2|2 Yand 2|4, respectively, from which depend chains fassa-occ 2|6 and 2l8, respectively, which are attached `at 22D and 222 to the -ends of 'the heater frame 2112 adjacent opposite sides thereof, respectively. The chains '216 and 2|-8 may be secured to their respective wheels 212 and 2M, in the manner shown in 'Fi-g. 7, -i. e., `by means vof a 4screw 2224 which may pass through .an elongated end 225 of the chain and be -threadedly received in the wheel. The heater frame '202 is thus suspended on the chains 2 I-S and 218 substantially at its lfour corner-s.

"The forward ends -of the shafts 208 and 21B carry :sprockets'230 Yand 232, respectively, which through chains -234 and 236 lare -drivingly connected with sprockets 238 and-240, respectively, on the slow shaft 242 of a reduction gearing 244 on an electric motor 246 which is mounted at 248 on a, suitably suspended platform 250. Thus, on operating the motor 246 to drive the slow shaft 242 of the reduction gearing 244 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, the heater frame 202 will be lowered. Conversely, on driving the shaft 242 in the opposite direction, the heater frame 202 will be raised. The described mounting of the suspension chains 216 and 218 on their respective wheels 212 and 2|4 (Fig. '7) permits vertical adjustment of the heater frame 202 within the required limits.

Each ceramic block 200 is provided with a longitudinal passage 252 (Fig. 4) into which projects a burner pipe 254 which has on the outside of the frame 202 a conventional head 256 (Fig. 1) wherein to admit through a turnable valve disc 257 atmospheric air in regulatable amounts for intermixing with any suitable gaseous fuel which is admitted into the head 256 at an inlet 258 thereof. The burner pipe 254 is provided with a multitude of orices 260 (Fig. 4) through which the mixture of gaseous fuel and air escapes and burns to heat the ceramic block. Each ceramic block 200 is for maximum heat radiation formed at its bottom with a multitude of projecting pins 262. The fuel inlets 25.18 of the burner heads 256 are connected through flexible conduits 264, respectively, with manually operable valves 268, respectively, on .a gas main 210 which may suitably be suspended from the ceiling by suitable hangers 212.

Suitably suspended from the ceiling, for instance, is a hood 280 (Figs. l, 2 and 4) into which pass the products of combustion from the heater H from where they may escape through a suitable flue (not shown). Preferably hingedly suspended from the opposite sides of the hood 280, as at 282 and 284, respectively (Fig. 4), are baille plates 286 and 288, respectively, which extend throughout the longitudinal extent of the apparatus preferably to the lower limit of the broiling zone e so as to prevent undue escape of heat therefrom. The baffle plates 286 on the side of the burner heads 256 are slotted as at 290 (Fig. l) to clear the latter in any vertically adjusted position of the heater frame 202.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Meat-broiling apparatus, comprising laterally spaced endless conveyors having substantially horizontal top runs, respectively, on a level with and on opposite sides, respectively, of a broiling zone, :at least `ont spit adapted `to-ibe icarried by said conveyors, longitudinally .spaced and transversely aligned supports carried by said convoyers and arranged to for-m iopposed pairs .on said conveyors for removably carrying said spit in bridging relation with said conveyors, another support vertically spaced above said top runs of the'conveyors, hea-ting means suspended `from said other support and adapted to heat said broiling zone, means for vertically adjusting said other support relative to said horizontal top .runs of said conveyors whereby to verticall7 ladjust said heating means so as to regulate thetemperature in -said broiling zone, .and driving means forsaid conveyors, a rack extending on the .outside of said conveyors parallel to the adjacent top run thereof and being adapted to mesh with gears on the adjacent ends of said spit on said support pairs, and guide structure for preventing axial movement of the spit gears from said rack.

2. Meat-broiling apparatus, comprising laterally spaced endless conveyors having substantially horizontal top runs, respectively, on a level with and on opposite sides, respectively, of a broiling zone, at least one spit adapted to be carried by said conveyors, longitudinally spaced and transversely aligned supports carried byv said conveyors and arranged to form opposed pairs on said conveyors for removably carrying said spit in bridging relation with said conveyors, another support vertically spaced above said top runs of the conveyors, heating means suspended from4 said other support and adapted to heat said broiling zone, means for vertically adjusting said other support relative to said horizontal top runs of said conveyors whereby to vertically adjust said heating means so as to regulate the temperature in said broiling zone, driving means for said conveyors, a rack extending on the outside of said conveyors parallel to the adjacent top run thereof and being adapted to mesh with gears on the adjacent ends of said spit on said support pairs, and guide structure for preventing axial movement of the spit gears from said rack, and

. means for guiding the spit gears onto said rack during their travel with said conveyors, said last mentioned means being positioned beyond the adjacent end of said rack.

3. Meat-broiling apparatus, comprising laterally spaced endless conveyors having substantially horizontal top runs, respectively, on a level with and on opposite sides, respectively, of a broiling zone, at least one spit adapted to be carried by said conveyors, longitudinally spaced and transversely aligned supports carried by said conveyors and arranged to form opposed pairs on said conveyors for removably carrying said spit in bridging relation with said conveyors, another support vertically spaced above said top runs of the conveyors, heating means suspended from said other support and adapted to heat said broiling zone, means for vertically adjusting said other support relative to said horizontal top runs of said conveyors whereby to vertically adjust said heating means so as to regulate the temperature in said broiling zone, driving means for said conveyors, a rack extending on the outside of said conveyors parallel to the adjacent top run thereof and being adapted to mesh with gears on the adjacent ends of a spit on said support pairs, and a guide having surfaces extending parallel to and on opposite sides, respectively, of said rack and adapted to prevent axial movement of the spit gears from said rack, the entrance to said guide being formed by oppositely diverging ex- BENJAMIN EBIN.

References Cited in the ille of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Parker Dec. 13, 1881 Grace Mar. 14, 1905 Riegel Mar. 5, 1918 Hammond June 28, 1927 Triplett June 24, 1930 Number 8 Name Date Allwine July 29, 1930 Padelford Jan. 14, 1936 Zerr Jan. 3, 1939 Wise June 20, 1939 O'Dowd Dec. 5, 1939 McGlaughlin Oct. 14, 1941 Henley Nov. 2, 1943 Spiers Nov. 23, 1943 Austin Jan. 25, 1944 Reichert May 17, 1949 Keljik Oct. 25, 1949 Steriss May 2, 1950 Alexander Dec. 5, 1950 Hagopian Dec. 11, 1951 

